I loved it, and I remember the day I picked it out at Seawright's Jewelers on the square in Hartwell. But after some time I realized that the pattern was SO uber-formal that I never used it and when I did I was too busy making sure no one whacked one of the little pearl droplets off the plates to enjoy using it! The pattern was beautiful but definitely not me. I sold it on ebay to a very grateful woman who'd long admired the pattern but could not afford it. Win win. I love it when that happens.
After that, I went pure tee crazy. I now have 8 place settings of Lenox Winter Greetings (both the formal and everyday settings), Lenox Summer Greetings, various fiesta wear pieces, a Vera Wang set of chargers, a beautiful set of British china given to me by my husband's aunt Betty, a set of Pineapple by American Atellier, Friendly Village by Johnson Brothers, and many many more. I am bad about getting all sorts of pieces from different patterns. I LOVE the canisters from the Lenox Butler's Pantry. I don't have the place settings but I do have the canisters. I love the shapes of bowls and I am picky about the way a plate feels in your hands, so it's not all about looks. I will usually order one piece and keep it for awhile before I buy the entire setting just to see if it fits in with the madness around here. I don't know why I have this affliction, but I browse china patterns like other people browse for clothes or cars or something.
Next weekend I'm taking my Summer Greetings to set a spring table for my mother in law's spring gala at her church. I'm going to use it with a natural wicker charger. Here it is:
Actually this is the oriole plate and you should know that I have every bird variety Lenox makes. I am aware of my affliction and no one needs to point that out. I love to mix and match dessert plates and chargers from different patterns. I'm currently drooling over an Oneida Earthenware pattern called "Wine Country". But, since we're trying to shore up our savings account, I am refraining for now. My birthday is in June. Maybe I can wait till then!
I mostly browse amazon and ross simons for good china deals, although I've found some great buys on select pieces at smartbargains,com and overstock.com If you are looking for flatware, ross-simons is second to none. You can get some GREAT deals on stainless there. I have both Oneida Kenwood and Golden Kenwood. I like both of them, and so I haven't bought any other since I've married. But hey- that could be a whole new addiction for someone else out there!
Tomorrow, I'm being sequestered in order to churn out a chunk of my dissertation. Have a great weekend everyone. Enjoy it for me!
